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Audrain M, Egesipe AL, Tentillier N, Font L, Ratnam M, Mottier L, Clavel M, Le Roux-Bourdieu M, Fenyi A, Ollier R, Chevalier E, Guilhot F, Fuchs A, Piorkowska K, Carlyle B, Arnold SE, Berry JD, Luthi-Carter R, Adolfsson O, Pfeifer A, Kosco-Vilbois M, Seredenina T, Afroz T. Targeting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by neutralizing seeding-competent TDP-43 in CSF. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad306. [PMID: 38025276 PMCID: PMC10644982 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease driven by abnormal transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa aggregation, CSF may contain pathological species of transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa contributing to the propagation of pathology and neuronal toxicity. These species, released in part by degenerating neurons, would act as a template for the aggregation of physiological protein contributing to the spread of pathology in the brain and spinal cord. In this study, a robust seed amplification assay was established to assess the presence of seeding-competent transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa species in CSF of apparently sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. These samples resulted in a significant acceleration of substrate aggregation differentiating the kinetics from healthy controls. In parallel, a second assay was developed to determine the level of target engagement that would be necessary to neutralize such species in human CSF by a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa. For this, evaluation of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic effect for the monoclonal antibody, ACI-5891.9, in vivo and in vitro confirmed that a CSF concentration of ≍1100 ng/mL would be sufficient for sustained target saturation. Using this concentration in the seed amplification assay, ACI-5891.9 was able to neutralize the transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa pathogenic seeds derived from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient CSF. This translational work adds to the evidence of transmission of transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa pathology via CSF that could contribute to the non-contiguous pattern of clinical manifestations observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and demonstrates the ability of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody to neutralize the toxic, extracellular seeding-competent transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa species in the CSF of apparently sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Laure Font
- Research, AC Immune SA, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexis Fenyi
- Research, AC Immune SA, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Research, AC Immune SA, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Becky Carlyle
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology and the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS & the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tariq Afroz
- Research, AC Immune SA, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Brandl S, Reindl M. Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Neuroinflammation: Current In Vitro Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12699. [PMID: 37628879 PMCID: PMC10454051 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier, which is formed by tightly interconnected microvascular endothelial cells, separates the brain from the peripheral circulation. Together with other central nervous system-resident cell types, including pericytes and astrocytes, the blood-brain barrier forms the neurovascular unit. Upon neuroinflammation, this barrier becomes leaky, allowing molecules and cells to enter the brain and to potentially harm the tissue of the central nervous system. Despite the significance of animal models in research, they may not always adequately reflect human pathophysiology. Therefore, human models are needed. This review will provide an overview of the blood-brain barrier in terms of both health and disease. It will describe all key elements of the in vitro models and will explore how different compositions can be utilized to effectively model a variety of neuroinflammatory conditions. Furthermore, it will explore the existing types of models that are used in basic research to study the respective pathologies thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Reindl
- Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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3
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Dučić T, Koch JC. Synchrotron-Based Fourier-Transform Infrared Micro-Spectroscopy of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Reveals a Unique Biomolecular Profile. Cells 2023; 12:1451. [PMID: 37296572 PMCID: PMC10253168 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, with the most common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder affecting motoneurons. Although disruptions in macromolecular conformation and homeostasis have been described in association with ALS, the underlying pathological mechanisms are still not completely understood, and unambiguous biomarkers are lacking. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is appealing to extensive interest due to its potential to resolve biomolecular conformation and content, as this approach offers a non-invasive, label-free identification of specific biologically relevant molecules in a few microliters of CSF sample. Here, we analyzed the CSF of 33 ALS patients compared to 32 matched controls using FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis and demonstrated major differences in the molecular contents. A significant change in the conformation and concentration of RNA is demonstrated. Moreover, significantly increased glutamate and carbohydrates are found in ALS. Moreover, key markers of lipid metabolism are strongly altered; specifically, we find a decrease in unsaturated lipids and an increase in peroxidation of lipids in ALS, whereas the total amount of lipids compared to proteins is reduced. Our study demonstrates that FTIR characterization of CSF could represent a powerful tool for ALS diagnosis and reveals central features of ALS pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Dučić
- CELLS−ALBA, Carrer de la Llum 2-26, Cerdanyola del Valles, 08290 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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4
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Pardo-Moreno T, Mohamed-Mohamed H, Suleiman-Martos S, Ramos-Rodriguez JJ, Rivas-Dominguez A, Melguizo-Rodríguez L, Gómez-Urquiza JL, Bermudez-Pulgarin B, Garcia-Morales V. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Serum Lipid Level Association: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analytic Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108675. [PMID: 37240018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with unknown etiology. Many metabolic alterations occur during ALS progress and can be used as a method of pre-diagnostic and early diagnosis. Dyslipidemia is one of the physiological changes observed in numerous ALS patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the possible relationship between the rate of disease progression (functional rating scale (ALS-FRS)) and the plasma lipid levels at the early stage of ALS. A systematic review was carried out in July 2022. The search equation was "Triglycerides AND amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" and its variants. Four meta-analyses were performed. Four studies were included in the meta-analysis. No significant differences were observed between the lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol) and the ALS-FRS score at the onset of the disease. Although the number of studies included in this research was low, the results of this meta-analytic study suggest that there is no clear relationship between the symptoms observed in ALS patients and the plasma lipid levels. An increase in research, as well as an expansion of the geographical area, would be of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Pardo-Moreno
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences-Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | - Himan Mohamed-Mohamed
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences-Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | | | - Juan José Ramos-Rodriguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences-Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | | | - Lucía Melguizo-Rodríguez
- Department of Nursery, Faculty of Health Sciences-Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | - José L Gómez-Urquiza
- Department of Nursery, Faculty of Health Sciences-Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | | | - Victoria Garcia-Morales
- Physiology Area, Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain
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5
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Efficacy of oligodendrocyte precursor cells as delivery vehicles for single-chain variable fragment to misfolded SOD1 in ALS rat model. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 28:312-329. [PMID: 36874245 PMCID: PMC9974989 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase1 (SOD 1) mutation is a leading cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Growing evidence suggests that antibody therapy against misfolded SOD1 protein can be therapeutic. However, the therapeutic effects are limited, partly because of the delivery system. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) as a drug delivery vehicle of single-chain variable fragments (scFv). Using a Borna disease virus vector that is pharmacologically removable and episomally replicable in the recipient cells, we successfully transformed wild-type OPCs to secrete scFv of a novel monoclonal antibody (D3-1), specific for misfolded SOD1. Single intrathecal injection of OPCs scFvD3-1, but not OPCs alone, significantly delayed disease onset and prolonged the lifespan of ALS rat models expressing SOD1 H46R . The effect of OPC scFvD3-1 surpassed that of a 1 month intrathecal infusion of full-length D3-1 antibody alone. scFv-secreting OPCs suppressed neuronal loss and gliosis, reduced levels of misfolded SOD1 in the spinal cord, and suppressed the transcription of inflammatory genes, including Olr1, an oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1. The use of OPCs as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic antibodies is a new option for ALS in which misfolded protein and oligodendrocyte dysfunction are implicated in the pathogenesis.
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6
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Intrathecal Pseudodelivery of Drugs in the Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Rationale, Basis and Potential Applications. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030768. [PMID: 36986629 PMCID: PMC10059785 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrathecal pseudodelivery of drugs is a novel route to administer medications to treat neurodegenerative diseases based on the CSF-sink therapeutic strategy by means of implantable devices. While the development of this therapy is still in the preclinical stage, it offers promising advantages over traditional routes of drug delivery. In this paper, we describe the rationale of this system and provide a technical report on the mechanism of action, that relies on the use of nanoporous membranes enabling selective molecular permeability. On one side, the membranes do not permit the crossing of certain drugs; whereas, on the other side, they permit the crossing of target molecules present in the CSF. Target molecules, by binding drugs inside the system, are retained or cleaved and subsequently eliminated from the central nervous system. Finally, we provide a list of potential indications, the respective molecular targets, and the proposed therapeutic agents.
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7
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Muniz Terrera G. Brain sciences and the R words. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcac283. [PMID: 36687393 PMCID: PMC9847522 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Our Associate Editor, Graciela Muniz Terrera, discusses the importance of reproducibility in neuroscience and our special collection of papers on the topic.
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Loganathan S, Wilson BA, Carey SB, Manzo E, Joardar A, Ugur B, Zarnescu DC. TDP-43 Proteinopathy Causes Broad Metabolic Alterations including TCA Cycle Intermediates and Dopamine Levels in Drosophila Models of ALS. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12020101. [PMID: 35208176 PMCID: PMC8876928 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS is a fatal, complex neurodegenerative disorder that causes selective degeneration of motor neurons. ALS patients exhibit symptoms consistent with altered cellular energetics such as hypermetabolism, weight loss, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and altered glucose tolerance. Although evidence supports metabolic changes in ALS patients, metabolic alterations at a cellular level remain poorly understood. Here, we used a Drosophila model of ALS based on TDP-43 expression in motor neurons that recapitulates hallmark features of motor neuron disease including TDP-43 aggregation, locomotor dysfunction, and reduced lifespan. To gain insights into metabolic changes caused by TDP-43, we performed global metabolomic profiling in larvae expressing TDP-43 (WT or ALS associated mutant variant, G298S) and identified significant alterations in several metabolic pathways. Here, we report alterations in multiple metabolic pathways and highlight upregulation of TCA cycle metabolites and defects in neurotransmitter levels. We also show that modulating TCA cycle flux either genetically or by dietary intervention mitigates TDP-43-dependent locomotor defects. In addition, dopamine levels are significantly reduced in the context of TDP-43G298S, and we find that treatment with pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, improves locomotor function in vivo in Drosophila models of TDP-43 proteinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvithanandhini Loganathan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Bryce A. Wilson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Sara B. Carey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Ernesto Manzo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Archi Joardar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Berrak Ugur
- Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
| | - Daniela C. Zarnescu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (S.L.); (B.A.W.); (S.B.C.); (E.M.); (A.J.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Correspondence:
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9
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Ng Kee Kwong KC, Harbham PK, Selvaraj BT, Gregory JM, Pal S, Hardingham GE, Chandran S, Mehta AR. 40 Years of CSF Toxicity Studies in ALS: What Have We Learnt About ALS Pathophysiology? Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:647895. [PMID: 33815058 PMCID: PMC8012723 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.647895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on early evidence of in vitro neurotoxicity following exposure to serum derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), several studies have attempted to explore whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from people with ALS could possess similar properties. Although initial findings proved inconclusive, it is now increasingly recognized that ALS-CSF may exert toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying CSF-induced neurodegeneration remains unclear. This review aims to summarize the 40-year long history of CSF toxicity studies in ALS, while discussing the various mechanisms that have been proposed, including glutamate excitotoxicity, proteotoxicity and oxidative stress. Furthermore, we consider the potential implications of a toxic CSF circulatory system in the pathophysiology of ALS, and also assess its significance in the context of current ALS research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pratap K. Harbham
- West Midlands Academic Foundation Programme, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bhuvaneish T. Selvaraj
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jenna M. Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Edinburgh Brain Bank, Academic Department of Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Giles E. Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, InStem, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arpan R. Mehta
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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